3 Chinese semiconductor firms keen to invest US$100mil in Penang

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said memorandums of understanding were signed with the semiconductor companies during the KL20 Summit last week. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Three Chinese semiconductor companies are keen to invest in Penang with total investments of US$100 million (about RM477 million), said chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.

The companies are China Wafer Level CSP Co, Ningbo SJ Electronics Co, and Wuxi AMTE Inc.

Chow said the proposed investment will bolster Penang’s growing integrated circuit design and advanced packaging ecosystem, reported Bernama.

“China Wafer Level has revolutionised the semiconductor industry by developing innovative technologies and assisting its customers in implementing high-volume manufacturing of semiconductor packages.

“Ningbo SJ Electronics has extensive experience in materials and equipment as well as exceptional research and development capabilities.

“Wuxi AMTE is a leading provider of produced semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in China with its main products focussing on etching and film process equipment widely used in the front-end of semiconductor processing,” he told a press conference in George Town, Penang, today.

Chow said the signing of memorandums of understanding with the semiconductor companies during the KL20 Summit last week had laid the groundwork for these investments.

On a call by former chief minister Lim Guan Eng for the state to conduct a post-mortem after losing the IC design park to Selangor, Chow said Penang remains attractive to investors. He welcomed a meeting with Lim to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, Blue Chip Venture Capital co-founder and CEO Tim Chen said these collaborations mark another milestone in Penang’s semiconductor industry and would take several months before they take off.

“Together, they will create hundreds of job opportunities,” he said.